SOS 6ENTZANA. No. 41. 



Genus Gentiana took its name from Gentius, kins of 

 Ulyria, it gives its name to a large Natural Family, and 

 belongs to Pent andria digynia oilAnn^MSy although 

 it has often more or less than five Stamina^ and seldom 

 if ever two styles- That genus is a very heterogene- 

 ous one, although striking by its habit j but the 

 flowers have the peculiarity of being variable in shapes 

 and numbers; wherefore many botanists have ration- 

 ally divided it into subgenera, which might be rather 

 deemed Genera. Almost all our species belong to 

 the 5', G. Pneiimonanthe having oblong or tubular 

 Corolla, and five Stamina, except the G. crinita 

 which belongs to S. G, Exihlephts having four Sta- 

 mi*ia and a hypocrateriform ciliated Corolla. While 

 the officinal Gentian or G. hitea of Europe belongs to 

 S, G. Rotularia having rotated Corolla, ^vith five to 

 nine Stamina. 



^All our Gentians are autumnal plants, blossoming 

 very late from September to November : They are 

 all ornamental and would adoru our gardens, where 

 some are already introduc&dv— 



Qualities — The root has a mucilaginous and 

 sweetish taste, followed by an intense bitterness like 

 that of the officinal Gentian, It contains Amarine, 

 Extractive, Mucilage, Resin, Sugar, Oil, and the 

 principle Gentia, which is soluble in Water and Al- 

 cohol, as well as all the active parts^. the solutions are 

 more bitter than the root in substance: No astriu- 

 gency. 



PROPERTIES Tonic, Sudorific, Antiseptic, 



Corroborant, Cathartic, &c. It is very little inferior 



